Walks & rides

On two feet, four hooves or a set of wheels? There are ample routes to explore and enjoy the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Here, we have compiled some short and easy routes around the Blackdown Hills AONB. These routes are not too strenuous and good if you have limited mobility or you trying to improve your level of fitness.

Our thanks to the group Green Days Day Care in Wellington who have been trying out some of these routes, giving us feedback and helping us write the descriptions.

We're looking to add more easy routes to the website. So if you have any suggestions of routes that have worked well for you, please feel free email blackdownhills@devon.gov.uk.

2 Easy routes routes found in the Blackdown HIlls AONB

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Wellington Monument Approach

Easy. Distance 1.5 miles

If you’re looking for somewhere to walk which isn’t too strenuous, a safe bet is the approach to Wellington Monument. The tree-lined walk from the carpark to Wellington Monument is along a level gravel pathway. The complete walk is approximately three-quarters of a mile each way, approximately 15 minutes each way. At the end, you’re rewarded with a view of this impressive monument to the Duke of Wellington.

If you’re looking for somewhere to walk which isn’t too strenuous, a safe bet is the approach to Wellington Monument.

There is plenty of parking (around 30 spaces) close to the start of the walk.

The tree-lined walk from the carpark to Wellington Monument is along a level gravel pathway. There the occasional bump or dip in the path but no steps, styles or steep gradients.

The complete walk is approximately three-quarters of a mile each way, approximately 15 minutes each way. At the end, you’re rewarded with a view of this impressive monument to the Duke of Wellington. Wellington Monument is the world’s tallest three-sided obelisk, standing at 175 feet.

The information boards are easy to read and include details of the Monument’s history and a map showing nearby walks.

On fine days there is ample space around the monument to enjoy a picnic or fly a kite. The walk is particularly beautiful in the autumn, when the leaves turn all shades of brown, red and gold. Very windy days are best avoided as it can get quite blustery up by the Monument. In the winter, be aware that the path can get rather muddy.

Staple Hill Easy Access Trail

Easy. Distance 0.5 miles (0.8km)

As the name suggests, Staple Hill Easy Access Trail allows everyone, including those with limited mobility, to enjoy the beautiful countryside the Blackdown Hills AONB has to offer. The viewpoints have picnic benches and seating and the kissing gates are big enough for wheelchairs and pushchairs. There are also no steep gradients and the wide compacted path surface makes pushing wheelchairs and pushchairs easy.

As the name suggests, Staple Hill Easy Access Trail allows everyone, including those with limited mobility, to enjoy the beautiful countryside the Blackdown Hills AONB has to offer.

This is the highest point in the Blackdown Hills and from here you can see spectacular views across the Vale of Taunton. On a clear day you can see all the way to Wales!

Staple Hill is part of the Forestry Commission woodlands and one of the points on the Staple Fitzpaine Herepath.

The Easy Access Trail is a loop walk of 800m, starting from the car parking area and taking in two viewpoints. The trail has been designed and built to national ‘all ability’ access standards and is suitable for disabled access, so it is easy for everyone to use.

The viewpoints have picnic benches and seating and the kissing gates are big enough for wheelchairs and pushchairs. There are also no steep gradients and the wide compacted path surface makes pushing wheelchairs and pushchairs easy.